|
Got News?!
If you have information you think is appropriate to post on the Far West Masters news page
and circulate to our members, send a message to news@farwestmasters.org.
The moderators will review your request to ensure that the information provided is appropriate
and relevant to our members.
Want to receive News emails?
If you'd like to be added to the news mailing list to receive news posts by email,
send a subscription request to us at newsadmin@farwestmasters.org with your name and email address.
- Mammoth nationals cancelled, moved to Mt Bachelor
With just a week to go before the scheduled start of the 2023 Masters National Championships
at Mammoth, Mammoth Mountain made the decision that the event would have to be cancelled.
Mammoth Race Department met with the mountain operations team on Wed. Mar. 23 and after
extensive discussions the decision was made by Mountain Ops that it would not be
possible to properly support the event. The operations crews are challenged with an enormous
amount of work to reopen the mountain after the latest storms, and with another storm
arriving next week it will not be possible to prepare the race hills.
Any racers who had reservations with Mammoth Lodging or who had pre-purchased lift
tickets can receive full refunds. Mammoth is not able to reschedule our event this season.
The national masters committee met following the cancellation decision
and was offered an reschedule option by Rob Cravens of Pacific Northwest masters.
The PNW finals were already scheduled for Apr. 6-9 at Mt Bachelor Oregon, with two SG races
that are the Speed Series finale along with GS and SL races. PNW masters and the organizing
Mt Bachelor Ski Education Foundation (MBSEF) offered the option to expand their
existing event plans to accomodate the national championship. Acknowledging the
difficulty of changing schedule and travel plans for many competitors who had planned
to compete at Mammoth, it was agreed that a rescheduled nationals was better than nothing
and the Bachelor proposal was accepted.
The event announcement for the rescheduled Mt Bachelor national championships
has complete details on the schedule, registration, lift tickets, and lodging.
We've heard very positive feedback on the Bachelor race venue from our FW racers who
competed there in recent seasons - the hill is a lot of fun with some interesting
terrain. We encourage everyone who has the opportunity to consider heading to
Bend and Bachelor!! We haven't been able to hold many races this season in Far West
during this season of historic snowfall, so we now have one last chance to get out
for some racing fun.
[24-Mar-2023]
- Northstar SG races cancelled
Unfortunately, the Speed Series SG races at Northstar this Friday are cancelled.
Far West Masters and Northstar race department talked this afternoon; the consensus
is that with another warm, wet storm arriving Monday and not clearing out until
sometime Wednesday it will not be possible to prepare the race hill with just one day of
preparation time.
All of the Tahoe area resorts and Mammoth, along with their local communities,
have been heavily impacted by a significant "atmospheric river" (AR) storm
that arrived Thursday night and brought snow, rain, flooding, high winds, and numerous
road closures in both California and Nevada. Many communities have declared
a state of emergency to deal with the extraordinary conditions. There is very little break
with stormy conditions continuing through Wednesday, so our Sierra ski resorts
face major challenges as they resume operations.
[6pm 12-Mar-2023]
- Northstar and Nationals race info
We have two remainging events on our March race schedule.
On Friday Mar. 17, we have two SG races at Northstar, which are also
part of the 2023 masters National Speed Series.
And at the end of the month the 2023 national championships
will be held at Mammoth Mountain on Mar. 28-Apr. 2, featuring
the complete set of DH, SG, GS, and SL races.
Race registration for the Northstar SG races is open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
The early registration deadline is Sun 3/12;
registration closes at 8pm PT Wed 3/15.
Northstar is an Epic pass resort; details on racer lift tickets will be provided when available.
The national championship entries are also available under our Far West Masters
race series on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com. Note that the GS races are
on two days - the younger men's groups A/B race on Friday 3/31 (men 18-64 - classes 1-8),
while the older men and women groups C/D race on Saturday 4/1 (men 64+ -classes 9-14, all women).
The event concludes with a banquet on Sunday evening (signup on ASR coming soone!)
The early registration deadline for nationals race entries is Mon 3/13.
Late fee of $10/race applies for entries after the early registration deadline.
Cancellation deadline for full refund is midnight Tue Mar. 21.
Refund for withdrawals after the cancellation deadline are at the discretion of the race
organizer (Mammoth Race Department), with consideration for injury, illness, or emergency.
Registration closes midnight Friday Mar. 24
[DATE_POSTED]
- Diamond Peak races cancelled
Regrets, but the decision has been made tonight to cancel this weekend's planned SL
races at Diamond Peak. (perhaps not surprising to any of us following the wild
weather over the past week and high confidence in another storm moving in by Saturday)
Diamond Peak coaches and staff met tonight after assessing conditions on the hill today
and the consensus was that it would be extremely difficult to prepare the race hill surface
by Saturday due to the large amounts of cold, dry, fresh snow received over the past few days.
Travel considerations were also a factor, with closures in the eastern Sierra on 395
due to avalanches remaining in effect and difficult travel around the Tahoe region
expected over the weekend.
Far West Skiing has also cancelled all junior races this weekend.
Far West Masters and Diamond Peak are actively exploring rescheduling options.
If Diamond Peak remains open in April, as may be possible given all the snow this season,
one option we are investigating is a possible reschedule in April as our season finals.
[2023-03-01]
- Diamond Peak SL races info
Our next races are a weekend of SL racing at Diamond Peak on Mar. 4-5.
It's been quite a few years since there was a masters race at Diamond Peak,
so it's exciting to have a returning venue back on our schedule.
We'll be racing on Showoff, accessed by the Lakeview quad chair
from the Diamond Peak base lodge.
The weekend schedule includes all-day training offered on Friday,
providing an opportunity for all to get on the race hill as well
as a training option for those who may not be participating
in one of the season training programs. Signup is online - $150
for lift + training. Please email coach Ryan Ritchie at masters@dpsef.org
on whether you will be there morning, afternoon, or all-day.
Race registration for both SL races is open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
The early registration deadline is Sun 2/26;
registration closes at 8pm PT Thu 3/2.
Racer lift ticket, Friday training/lift, and Diamond Peak release waiver
must be completed online prior to the event - see the event announcement
for details and links. Racer lift ticket purchase deadline is Thursday 3/2.
Party time!!! We'll be having a post-race party Saturday 2-4:30 pm at Jiffy’s Pizza,
(in the Raleys Shopping Center facing Hwy 28).
Pizza and drinks, awards, scholarship athletes, raffle - don't miss it!!
[22-Feb-2023]
- Feb and March schedule
We're just past the midpoint of February and have a few more races coming up,
culminating in the National Championships hosted at Mammoth Mountain at the end of
March.
Next up on our race schedule is 2 days of SL racing at Diamond Peak on Mar. 4-5.
We're pulling together details and will get updated event announcement out tomorrow.
We'll be racing on Showoff, accessed by the Lakeview Quad out of the Diamond Peak
base lodge. And at last, the party is on again!! We have a post-race party
arranged on Saturday afternoon with food, awards, scholarship athletes, and raffle.
Our final scheduled FW race of the season will be a SG doubleheader day at
Northstar on Fri. Mar. 17. These races are also our Far West stop on the
2023 masters National Speed Series.
Last but certainly not least, Mammoth Mountain is hosting the 2023 Masters
National Championships on Mar. 17-Apr. 2. It's a special treat to have nationals
hosted in our division - this is always a great event and Mammoth is putting
on a 4-event championship, with the national championship DH followed by
SG-GS-SL races. If you're new to masters, don't be intimidated - nationals
features top-notch racing, but is also an opportunity to meet masters from
around the country. It's about challenging racing, creating and renewing friendships,
and parties every day.
All race signups are listed in the Far West Masters series on
masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
If you need any help with the registration site or race signups, contact us
at raceadmin@farwestmasters.org for assistance.
[19-Feb-2023]
- Palisades Bernard Cup race photos
We're happy to be able to pass on info about race photos that were
taken at the Sunday Feb. 12 Bernard Cup races at Palisades Tahoe.
Photographer Peter Day has posted some great race photos on his site
(link below) and has very reasonable pricing to purchase images.
Photos are organized by run in chronological order. (Fun to check out if you're not one of the racers!)
If you have questions, contact Peter Day at peterdayphoto@gmail.com or by text at 864-551-5692.
Support Peter by buying some photos and encourage him to come back and shoot more of our races!
[19-Feb-2023]
- Palisades World Cup races
Coming up in less than two weeks is an exciting ski racing event in the Far West - Palisades Tahoe
is hosting the men's World Cup with GS and SL races on the weekend of Feb. 25-26.
This is a rare opportunity to see the best in world, up close and our our home ground,
so definitely consider making time to attend this event.
Racing will be on Red Dog, a fabled race venue, right in front of the base area village
at Olympic Valley. The schedule is GS on Saturday, SL on Sunday, along with concerts,
fireworks, and vendor village area, and more.
[15-Feb-2023]
- Mt Rose and Palisades GS races
It has certainly been an interesting and challenging winter for us in the Far West.
The weekend of Feb. 11-12 featured GS racing at Mt. Rose and Palisades (Olympic Valley)
with the McKinney Cup and Bernard Cup permanent trophies at stake.
Saturday's GS double-header on the Silver Dollar track at Mt Rose greeted racers
with fresh snow and inconsistent visibility, with fog lifting and dropping throughout
the morning. The race jury and crew delayed the race through the morning, hoping
that visibility and conditions would improve to the point that racing was possible,
but it was not to be.
The weather cleared and sunshine returned for Sunday's GS race at Palisades.
The race was moved from our usual race venue at the base of the mountain up
to a mid-mountain course on Motts, with the main race arena being prepared
for hosting men's World Cup races in two weeks on Feb. 25.26. (An iced-down track
suitable for World Cup racing is NOT a masters-friendly experience!)
While the conditions were good, competitors and crews were challenged by
communication problems that prevented posting times on live-timing as is usually done.
(local sources report the cell network was overwhelmed by the load from
the weekend crowd)
Regrettably it was not possible to announce the Bernard Cup trophy winners
immediately following the race, as is normally done. So belatedly we
congratulate the 2023 Bernard Cup winners - Carol Levine (W10) and Scott Malmsten (M09).
We are working on plans for a trophy presentation at a future event for both the
Viva Italia Cup trophies from the January Alpine SL races and the Bernard Cup,
so that we can congratulate the winners and celebrate with our racing peers.
Complete race results and the Bernard rankings are
posted on the web site on the Race Results page
along with the updated Season Standings rankings
for 2023 and the rankings under the age-handicap scoring system of the Bernard Cup.
(Note: we are exploring the possibility of rescheduling the McKinney Cup races
with Mt Rose, if we can work out the arrangements and a suitable date.)
[14-Feb-2023]
- Mt Rose and Palisades races info
After a weather-delayed start to the 2023 racing season, our calendar gets busy
with a GS-madness weekend on two of the best GS race venues in the Far West Division.
We will have back-to-back events on the weekend of Feb. 11-12, with a double-GS day
on Saturday 2/11 for the McKinney Cup event at Mt Rose followed by the Bernard Cup GS
at Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley) on Sunday 2/12.
** NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGES **
After considering feedback from racers and discussions among the organizers,
the Palisades Bernard Cup schedule has been changed from 2 GS races to 1 GS,
allowing more reasonable departure time for competitors travelling home on Sunday afternoon.
(or... watching the Super Bowl?!)
Note also that Palisades is preparing the main race arena venues for the men's World Cup Races on Feb. 25-26,
so our masters race will be held on the alternate venue of Motts (access from mid-mountain Siberia chair).
Race registration for both events is open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
The early registration deadline is Sun 2/5;
registration closes at 8pm PT Thu 2/9.
Open class reminder: if you want to compete in Open class, contact scoring director
Deb Lewis at dlewis@farwestmasters.org no later than noon Friday 2/10.
Day-of-race Open class changes will not be accepted.
[03-Feb-2023]
- Alpine Viva Italia SL races
And finally we have racing to kick off the 2023 season! After losing
our scheduled races at Mammoth in both December and January and finally
emerging from the multi-week storm onslaught that started just before
the new year, the snow is deep, the sun came out, and we had beautiful
conditions for two SL races on Kangaroo at Alpine Meadows on Saturday Jan. 28.
In addition to being our season kickoff, these races were scored for the Viva Italia cup,
a combined award based on age handicapped total times. John Gianotti would have been
proud of the spirit of our racers carrying on his tradition. The 2023 Viva Italia winners were
Nancy Gieske (W08) and Tim Stewart (M10).
Due to the lateness of the awards party after a long day on the race hill, we were
unfortunately unable to announce the Viva Italia results for the trophy presentation
on Saturday, so congratulations to Nancy and Tim!
Complete race results and the Viva Italia rankings are
posted on the web site on the Race Results page
along with the first Season Standings rankings for 2023.
[02-Feb-2023]
- Alpine SL races info
It's been an amazing January in the Sierra, with several weeks
of the storm train rolling at full blast, so it's
a welcome change to have a week of clear weather setting up
just in time for our SL races at Alpine Meadows on Saturday Jan. 28.
Race registration for both SL races is open on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
The early registration deadline is Sun 1/22;
registration closes at 8pm PT Thu 1/26.
Open class reminder: if you want to compete in Open class, contact scoring director
Deb Lewis at dlewis@farwestmasters.org no later than noon Friday 1/27.
Day-of-race Open class changes will not be accepted.
[22-Jan-2023]
- Mammoth Jan GS/SL races cancelled
The snow has been nearly non-stop since the last week of December;
for over two weeks now the storm track has delivered repeated moisture-laden
AR (atmospheric river) storms straight into California and the Mammoth-Tahoe
region of the Sierra. Feet of snow, rinse and repeat.
We rarely cancel events prior to race day, as mountain weather is changeable
and the forecasts don't always turn out to be what happens. On relatively
rare occasions, however, we will declare a cancellation when there is no
reasonable likelihood to be able to hold the race or for competitors to
travel safely.
Sadly, this is one of those times. We will not be racing at Mammoth next
week on Jan. 20-22. The MLK holiday weekend is bringing more feet of snow over
multiple days. While it appears that the weather pattern will finally clear
by the middle of the week, there is no way to prepare the race surface in just
a few days after this much snow.
The next races on our schedule are two SL races at Alpine Meadows on Sat. Jan. 28.
February features the FIS Masters-Western Region Championships at Beaver Creek CO
on Feb. 2-5, followed by a packed weekend of GS doubleheaders on Feb. 11-12
at Mt Rose and Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley).
[14-Jan-2023]
- Mammoth Jan GS/SL races info
It's been a pretty wild couple weeks to kick off January here in the Far West.
A seemingly non-stop series of storms rolling through has brought rain, floods, and huge amounts
of snow to the Sierra. Late last week we made the sad decision that it would not
be possible to run the planned DH/SG races at Mammoth on Jan. 19-22 and changed
the event program to GS races on Fri-Sat and a SL race on Sun.
The event announcement and Schedule page information on the farwestmasters.org web site
have been updated and race signups on masters.AdminSkiRacing.com have been changed over.
Entries for the Fri DH and Sat-Sun SG races have been "carried over" with the
change to GS/SL. Everyone who was entered for the speed races was sent a notification
on Tuesday night about that change; entries can be dropped for anyone who will not
be coming with the changed event schedule.
Early registration deadline is Sun 1/15; registration closes
at 8pm PT Wed 1/18.
We will continue to monitor the weather forecasts and conditions outlook through
the coming MLK holiday weeked, with one more round of storms predicted and then
prospects for shifting back to a dryer pattern next week. If there is any additional news
to pass on we'll announce as soon as possible to assist everyone with their planning.
If you have any questions or need assistance, contact us at raceadmin@farwestmasters.org.
[11-Jan-2023]
- Mammoth DH/SG races changed to GS/SL
Well, happy new year, the Sierra is entering January with the storm door
wide open to a continuing series of major winter storms that started over the New Year's
holiday weekend and a week later is still rolling. More snow than we know what to do with!
We are now within two weeks from the planned DH/SG races on Jan. 19-22 and
the weather forecasts have several more strong storms lined up for the coming week.
Regrettably, the prospects for a weather break that would allow the necessary
preparations for a speed venue just isn't in the outlook. In addition, few of us have
had any opportunity for speed training before what would be our first races
of the season.
Following discussions with Mammoth Race Department, Far West Masters organizers,
and masters program coaches, we are going to change the event plan to three days
of racing - GS on Friday and Saturday, SL on Sunday.
We'll get additional details out next week and change the race signups on
the masters.AdminSkiRacing.com registration site to match the new program. If you have
already signed up for the DH/SG races, we'll be in touch on logistics of whether
we'll carry over those signups or just start fresh for everyone.
[05-Jan-2023]
- Mammoth races cancelled
Unfortunately our season opening GS-SL races at Mammoth had to be cancelled.
The week turned stormy with a strong storm that took out Thursday's final training camp day
and made travel difficult for those not yet on site, while the forecasts converged on
a second multi-day storm moving in on Saturday through the weekend.
Fortunately for those here, the fallback option was a beautiful powder day on Friday in the
short break between storms. With 2+ ft of fluffy new snow at Main (and 30" reported at the summit),
there was no way that the race hill could have been prepared. Patrol and mountain operations
had a lot to do just to get the mountain dug out and open.
We appreciate Mammoth's efforts to put on our opening races, but the weather won this round.
[02-Dec-2022]
- 2023 Open Class
Far West Masters races are conducted following the standard US masters age class rules.
An additional option is used by Far West Masters in our division races, allowing competitors to elect to be
scored in an Open class drawn from all age classes rather than their age class for race awards and season scoring.
All competitors start within their age group in the race start order but may choose to be
scored for race awards based on the overall ranking of Open class participants rather than within their age class.
The season leader bibs are awarded based on the rankings of the Open class.
The 2023 Open class elections list is started with all current season bib holders registered by default.
Everyone else (including "the usual folks") need to explicitly elect to participate in Open class.
It's your choice - no one is obligated or expected to elect Open class - go Open if you'll have fun doing that,
stay in your age class for scoring and awards if you're happy with the standard age class system.
To elect Open class, contact scoring director Deb Lewis at dlewis@farwestmasters.org.
Open class participants will be noted on start lists and when possible on the finish board so that
all competitors know who is competing within their age class and who is being scored in the overall Open class.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
to participate in the Open class for any event, you MUST elect Open
no later than the noon the day prior to the race.
Day-of-race Open class changes will not be accepted
[28-Nov-2022]
- Schedule Updates
The season schedule published in October has been updated with a correction for one event along
with a new event added on Mar. 3-4 at Diamond Peak.
Apologies for the mistake on our originally published schedule, due to a miscommunication
we had the dates and disciplines incorrectly posted for the Bernard Cup races at Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley).
The races will be two GS races on Sunday Feb. 12 (the original dates of Jan. 7-8 were incorrect).
This will be a leg-burner weekend on two outstanding GS venues, with the McKinney Cup GSx2 races
on Saturday Feb. 11 followed by the Bernard Cup GSx2 races at Palisades on Sunday Feb. 12.
We're very pleased to announce that we have added a new event to the schedule
with a weekend of two SL races at Diamond Peak on Mar. 4-5. It's been quite a few years since
masters raced at Diamond Peak so it's exciting that this event came together to add to our
race calendar.
REMINDERS: Membership signup and registration for the Dec. 2-3 Mammoth opening weekend races
are open on our new masters.AdminSkiRacing.com (ASR) registration site.
Renewal deadline for Far West Masters membership is Sun Nov. 20, so
if you haven't gotten around to renewing your membership get it done before late renewal fees kick in!
Dec Mammoth race registration is also open on ASR - early registration deadline is Sun 11/27;
registration closes
at 8pm PT Wed 11/30.
The 3-day Mammoth training camp preceding the races is on for Tue-Wed-Thu - see the camp information
announcement for details.
[19-Nov-2022]
- Mammoth Dec races and camp
Winter has arrived with a solid early-season storm dumping on the Sierra this week
and our opening event of the 2022-2023 Far West Masters season is coming up soon.
We have Fri/Sat GS/SL races at Mammoth Mountain on Dec. 2-3, the week following
the Thanksgiving holiday. Mammoth is hosting a 3-day GS/SL masters training camp
on Tue-Wed-Thu Nov. 29-Dec. 1 prior to the races, so that's a good opportunity
to get on skis and get in some preseason race training to get warmed up.
See the event info announcement and training camp flyer for additional details.
Mammoth is offering a discounted lodging package for camp week and race weekend.
Race signups are now open on our new masters.AdminSkiRacing.com registration site.
Early registration deadline is Sun 11/27; registration closes
at 8pm PT Wed 11/30.
You can sign up for the races and purchase your 2023 Far West Masters membership if you haven't
already done so. This is a different site than we have used in previous seasons, so everyone
will need to create an account in order to sign up.
Our registration policies for late fees,
entry deadlines, DNS and cancellation are the same as they have been for many season, but
please take a few minutes to review the FWM Race Registration description.
Entry fees for races are charged when the event is held, so you can register or drop without penalty
anytime up until the close of registration. All entries as of close of registration will be charged
the race entry fee until refund granted by the race organizer.
[07-Nov-2022]
- Fall Forerunner newsletter
The fall issue of the Forerunner newsletter is out!
The President's Update message from Ray Tulloch describes the
latest news we have on plans for the upcoming ski season.
This issue also includes other information about membership
and the season schedule plans.
If you haven't already, take a quick look at the article on
Membership Renewal, which has a lot of helpful tips on how to get started
on our new registration service at masters.AdminSkiRacing.com.
Note: the primary distribution method of the Forerunner newsletter will
be electronic publishing through our news email list and here on the web site.
All current members of Far West Masters should receive the newsletter. If you
have any questions, contact us at forerunner@farwestmasters.org for assistance.
[23-Oct-2022]
- Season Schedule and Membership
Get ready for the 2022-2023 Far West Masters race season!!
The 2023 season schedule is posted on farwestmasters.org
on the Season Schedule page.
Far West Masters membership will open in October on our new
registration site masters.AdminSkiRacing.com and
race signups will open in November.
2023 Membership Reminders
-
U.S. Ski & Snowboard Membership
- US Ski & Snowboard membership renewal deadline is October 15.
Late fee of $25 charged on renewals after that date. (late fee does not apply to new members)
- Most masters should select the "Alpine Master" membership type.
Do NOT select the "Alpine Master w/ requirements" membership type unless you are
required to have SafeSport training and background checks due to your engagement with junior athletes
through a US Ski & Snowboard club role and do not already have through Official or Coach license.
- Most masters should select "No Club Affiliation" for the US Ski & Snowboard club affiliation.
Do NOT select the club at the area where you ski and train unless you are actually a member - the clubs
are generally associated only with junior alpine competitor programs. (e.g. the Mammoth and Palisades Tahoe masters
programs are NOT affiliated with the USSS club)
- Your Far West Masters membership is IN ADDITION to your US Ski & Snowboard Alpine Master membership.
Your FWM membership dues supports organizing our division race calendar and provides you with a permanent
race bib for all our Far West masters races.
- Far West masters membership is not required for first-time racers or competitors from other divisions.
We will provide a temporary bib for your use.
[10-Oct-2022]
- Preliminary 2023 Schedule
The preliminary 2022-2023 race schedule is now available! Scheduling Director Mike Braun
has tried to put together a calendar with a good mix of events at proven venues.
A highlight this season will be the opportunity to compete in the Masters National Championships in
our home division at Mammoth Mountain.
The Western Region championship/FIS Masters Cup races will be held at Beaver Creek CO on Feb. 2-5.
The US masters national championships are planned for Mammoth Mountain CA on Mar. March 28-Apr 2.
Mammoth will host a 4-event national championship event with DH, SG, GS, and SL.
<>p>
[28-Sep-2023]
- Introducing AdminSkiRacing
Far West Masters is moving a new site this season for membership and race entries.
SkiRaceReg.com brought us into the online registration world in 2012, providing
us with a much-needed service to streamline the race entry process for both racers
and organizers. System operator Doug Briggs is retiring (some silly reason
about wanting more time to go skiing and racing) and we are grateful for the
decade of fantastic support that he provided.
This season our registration service will transition to AdminSkiRacing (ASR).
This site was used last season by New England and Mid-Atlantic Masters and this
season most other masters divisions will be moving to ASR.
We have a lot of work to do to transition to the new registration site and update
all the information here on farwestmasters.org, so please be patient!
We expect to have membership signups open by mid-October and race signups by early November.
[29-Sep-2022]
- Spring Officials Clinic
We are always looking for new people who are interested in getting certified
as an alpine official to help staff our races. Far West Masters volunteers
serve as TD (Technical Delegate) and Referee at our races, which are two of the three
positions (along with the organizer's Chief of Race) that form the jury for a
US Ski & Snowboard race.
Far West is holding a Referee/JA (Jury Advisor) training clinic with certification exam
at Palisades Tahoe on Sunday April 24 2-7pm. Preregistration is required - sign up on
the Far West division fwskiing.org web site; registration deadline is 6pm Thursday 4/21.
Serving as an official helps us to be able to put on races and is an opportunity
to get involved with the race organization at our host venues. Learning the alpine
competition rules and the measures that go into putting on a quality competition
is an enlightening experience to broaden your ski racing knowledge!
For more information, contact our officials director Mark Mirviss
at mmirviss@farwestmasters.org.
[13-Apr-2022]
- Mammoth season finals info
Our final race event of the 2021-2022 season will be Thu-Fri-Sat Apr. 7-9
at Mammoth. There will be two SG races on Thursday, GS on Friday, and SL on Saturday.
Please note the registration deadlines for this event. Early registration deadline is
Fri 4/1 Sun 4/3 (extended!);
$5/race late fee applies for entries received after 4/3. Registration
on SkiRaceReg.com/fw closes at 8pm Mon 4/4.
No late entries will be accepted after registration closes.
All competitor US masters membership must be current no less than 24 hours prior to the start of any event.
Mammoth is an Ikon pass resort. Racer price lift tickets must be purchased online in advance
by Mon 4/4 (see event announcement for link).
Breaking News:
Mammoth will offer SG training on Wednesday morning 4/6. Time and place TBA; cost and registration
instructions will be provided this weekend.
[01-Apr-2022]
- Northstar event info
Our next races are a 3-day event at Northstar, featuring 2 SG races on Friday
and GS races on Sat/Sun. Both SG races on Friday also count in the 2022 masters National Speed Series.
Northstar has a fun race hill and will provide a good tuneup for those heading
to the Masters National Championships at Sun Valley on Mar. 21-26.
Registration deadlines for Northstar: early registration deadline is Sunday 3/6.
$5/race late fee applies for entries received after 3/6.
Registration on SkiRaceReg.com/fw closes at 8pm Tue 3/8.
There will be no day-of-race entries and late entries after the close of online registration
will only be accepted at the discretion of the Northstar organizers.
Northstar is an Epic pass resort. Details on lift ticket purchase for racers
who do not have Epic passes will be provided. Northstar event liability release is
REQUIRED - details will be provided. We expect that all race day information
will be posted electronically (competitors lists, program, start lists, DSQ and results).
[03-Mar-2022]
- Mt Rose McKinney Cup races
Mt Rose put on a great day of racing for the McKinney Cup GS races on Saturday Feb. 26.
The Silver Dollar race hill is long and challenging, one of the best GS hills in Far West,
and the Rose crew went all out to provide four full-length race runs. It was a long day
on the hill for both racers and crew, but the weather was great and everyone should have
been plenty tired by the end!
The McKinney Cup perpetual trophy is sponsored by Rees Palermo, in recognition of the
accomplishments and racing heritage of Tamara McKinney and the McKinney family,
who started their racing careers at Mt Rose. The trophy is awarded to the fastest man
and woman in the overall results for the event. The 2022 McKinney cup winners
were Linda Crowell (W09) and Ara Papazian (M06).
Complete race results are
posted on the web site on the Race Results page
along with the updated Season Standings rankings for 2022.
The complete history of the McKinney Cup is also published on farwestmasters.org:
farwestmasters.org/docs/specialevents/mckinney-silver.html.
[02-Mar-2022]
- Mt Rose, Northstar event info
The next events on our Far West Masters race calendar
are a GSx2 doubleheader on Saturday Feb. 26 at Mt Rose for the McKinney Cup
followed by 3 days at Northstar on Mar. 11-13
with speed series SGx2 races on Friday and GS races on the weekend.
And there's still plenty of time to make plans to compete at the
the 2022 masters National Championships at Sun Valley ID on Mar. 21-26
The GS races at Mt Rose on Saturday Feb. 26 will be on Silver Dollar, one of the best GS race hills
in the Far West Division. This will be a busy day, with 4 full GS runs. Services are currently
limited at the Winters Creek base lodge, so be sure to bring drinks/snacks/lunch as desired.
Registration deadlines for Mt Rose: early registration deadline is Sunday 2/20.
$5/race late fee applies for entries received after 2/20.
Registration on SkiRaceReg.com/fw closes at 8pm Wed 2/23.
No late entries will be accepted after registration closes.
Racer price lift tickets should be purchased online in advance and can be picked up
at Winters Creek Lodge customer service. Mt Rose liability release is REQUIRED
and must be completed online by 5pm Wed 2/23 (link below).
Racing continues in March with a 3-day event at Northstar, featuring 2 SG races on Friday
and GS races on Sat/Sun. Both SG races count in the 2022 masters National Speed Series.
This is a fun race hill and a good tuneup for those heading
to the Masters National Championships at Sun Valley on Mar. 21-26.
[16-Feb-2022]
- Palisades Tahoe Bernard Cup
After a year break due to covid travel restrictions in 2021, the Bernard Cup trophy
races returned to Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley) with a warm, sunny weekend
of GS and SL races on the Julia's Gold race run. The always challenging Julia's
run had firm conditions, rewarding sharp edges and a good line. The post-race
gathering was held outside on the deck and allowed everyone a chance to relax
and enjoy some tasty pizza while catching up with friends and fellow racers.
The competition for the age-handicapped Bernard Cup was tight for both the
men's and the women's trophies. When the final results were in on Sunday afternoon,
the 2022 Bernard Cup winners were Annette Mirviss (W07) and Wenceslao Lada Munoz (M08).
Complete race results are
posted on the web site on the Race Results page
along with the updated Season Standings rankings for 2022.
[16-Feb-2022]
- Feb races - Palisades Tahoe (OV), Mt Rose
February racing opens with the FIS Masters Cup/Western Region Championships
at Beaver Creek CO on Feb. 4-6, for those with the interest and ability to travel
out of division. Far West racing in February features a GS/SL weekend
at Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley) on Feb. 12-13 for the annual Bernard Cup trophy races
and a GSx2 doubleheader on Saturday Feb. 26 at Mt for the Rose McKinney Cup.
March racing for those planning ahead: 3 days at Northstar on Mar. 11-13
with speed series SGx2 races on Friday and GS races on the weekend, with
the 2022 masters National Championships at Sun Valley ID on Mar. 21-26.
COVID reminders: all competitors need to respect and follow the covid
guidelines at our host resorts, which generally are to require masking in all
indoor situations as well as on public transportation. We are guests
and it is a privilege to be able to hold our competitions, so let's please
be respectful and courteous!
Covid guidelines continue to influence our race day procedures this season.
Race information will be posted electronically (usually on live-timing.com)
and we will not be able to organize formal parties or awards gatherings.
But informal get-togethers on a smaller scale can be enjoyed by all of us!
Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley) - Bernard Cup GS/SL
The Bernard Cup races at Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley) will have GS on Saturday
and SL on Sunday, with a combined trophy awarded to the top man and woman
overall for the weekend using an age-handicap formula. Deadline for race entries
on SkiRaceReg.com/fw is 8pm Wed 2/9; early registration deadline
is Sunday 2/6 before $5/race late fees apply.
IMPORTANT: all racers MUST complete the Palisades Tahoe event release form
prior to the event!! See link below.
Racer price lift tickets if you do not have an Ikon pass must be purchased online in advance - link
will be emailed to all registered competitors. Ticket purchase deadline is Wed Feb. 9.
Mt Rose - McKinney Cup GSx2
The McKinney Cup races at Mt rose will have a GSx2 doubleheader on Saturday Feb. 26.
Deadline for race entries on SkiRaceReg.com/fw is 8pm Wed 2/23; early registration deadline
is Sunday 2/20 before $5/race late fees apply.
IMPORTANT: all racers MUST complete the Mt Rose liability release form
online by 5pm Wed 2/23!! See link below.
Racer price lift tickets can be purchased online in advance using the link in the announcement;
pick up at Winters Creek customer service.
[04-Feb-2022]
- Mammoth DH/SG races
The Mammoth speed series event was successfully held with four days of
top-quality DH and SG racing put on the Mammoth Race Department.
All races were held on the Hairjump-Fascination track, starting at
the base of Cornice Bowl down World Cup and through the transition road
past Terries and ADG into the finish pitch on Fascination. The course sets
were interesting and fun, allowing for the wide variety of ages and skills
in the field of 60+ athletes to all race to their limit,
and snow conditions on the track were fantastic.
Thursday DH training opened the event with nearly perfect conditions for the two
training runs - warm, sunny, light winds (!!), and a grippy consistent track.
An incoming wind event brought increasing NE winds through the day for Friday's DH races,
but both races were completed just before rising winds after mid-day brought upper mountain
operations to a halt. Saturday's SG races still faced a fairly strong wind, but
it was again consistent out of the north so conditions were equal for everyone.
Sunday wrapped up with the final two SG races and decreasing winds, so it was a fun
sunny day to complete the event.
Complete race results are
posted on the web site on the Race Results page
along with the updated Season Standings rankings for 2022.
The first DH on Friday and first SG on Saturday were also the
opening races of the 2022 US Masters National Speed Series - complete results
and NSS standings are posted on the NSS results page at
usalpinemasters.org/2022/nss.
[31-Jan-2022]
- Mt Rose schedule change
The Mt Rose McKinney Cup GS races originally scheduled for Sat-Sun Feb. 26-27
will now both be held on Saturday Feb. 26.
[DATE_POSTED]
- Mammoth DH/SG Speed Races Info
Next up on the Far West Masters race calendar are the DH/SG speed races
at Mammoth Mountain on Thu-Sun Jan. 20-23. This is a favorite event that
many of us look forward to every season and conditions are shaping up to be
outstanding! The snowpack is fantastic after the December storms and should
settle in to an excellent race surface with the weather forecasts for the next
two weeks calling for for a pattern shift to high pressure and clear weather.
The DH races will be held on Thursday and Friday. DH training on Thursday is REQUIRED
in order to compete in the two Friday DH races. Saturday and Sunday are two SG races each day.
The first DH race on Friday and the first SG race on Saturday are the opening races in the
2022 US Masters National Speed Series.
Please note the registration deadlines for this event. Early registration deadline is
Fri 1/14; $5/race late fee applies for entries received after 1/14. Registration
on SkiRaceReg.com/fw closes at 8pm Mon 1/17.
No late entries will be accepted after registration closes.
Mammoth is an Ikon pass resort. Racer price lift tickets must be purchased online in advance
by Mon 1/17 (see event announcement for link). Event lodging package offer is provided in
the Mammoth race announcement (link below); cutoff date is Thu Jan 12.
[09-Jan-2022]
- Alpine Viva Italia SL races
The 2021-2022 Far West Masters race season finally got going with 2 SL races
at Palisades Tahoe (Alpine Meadows) on Fri Jan. 7. It was famine and feast through December,
starting with ridiculously warm and dry weather that radically flipped to two weeks of
strong storms, high winds, road closures, and major dumps through the holiday period.
With the weather finally calming down, all the ski areas in the Sierra dug out and
kicked into full operation with the new year.
Despite a cloudy day with light snow, the Alpine race crew kept
the program moving and pulled off 4 runs of SL on Kangaroo. The flat light
made it challenging, but racers maintained good spirits - it was great to finally
get back to racing!
In addition to being our season kickoff, these races were scored for the Viva Italia cup,
a combined award based on age handicapped total times. John Gianotti would have been
proud of the spirit of our racers carrying on his tradition. The 2022 Viva Italia winners were
Linda Crowell (W09) and Wenceslao Lada Munoz (M08).
Complete race results and the Viva Italia rankings are
posted on the web site on the Race Results page
along with the first Season Standings rankings for 2022.
And wait, there's more! Race photos!! Follow the link below to see Peter Day's race photos.
Digital images are very reasonably priced and support Peter being out there taking our race photos
on a day when conditions were challenging for the photographer as well as the racers. Thanks Peter!
[09-Jan-20222]
- 2022 Open Class
Far West Masters races are conducted following the standard US masters age class rules.
An additional option is used in Far West, allowing competitors may elect to be scored in the
Open class drawn from all age classes rather than their age class for race awards and season scoring.
So all competitors start within their age group in the start order but may choose to be
scored for race awards based on the overall ranking of Open class participants rather than their age class.
The season leader bibs are awarded based on the rankings of the Open class.
Note: due to limited racing in the 2021 "covid" season, the 2021 season leader bibs are carried over for 2022
so that competitors have a chance to wear the season bibs they earned in 2020!
To elect Open class, contact scoring director Deb Lewis at dlewis@farwestmasters.org.
Open class participants will be noted on start lists and when possible on the finish board so that
all competitors know who is competing within their age class and who is being scored in the overall Open class.
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
to participate in the Open class for any event, you MUST elect Open
no later than the close of the start list the day prior to the race.
Day-of-race Open class changes will not be accepted
[2022-01-03]
- January races are on!
Happy New Year! After a slow start to winter in the Sierra, the weather did a full 360
on us (or maybe that was a full 720 reverse flip?!) and dumped for two weeks through the holidays.
Ok, we're good - we got snow now!
Our first races of the season will be Friday Jan. 7 at Alpine Meadows, with 2 SL races.
Alpine is grooming the Kangaroo race hill to pack in all the new snow and prepare the race surface.
Kangaroo is a good race hill to start the season - not too long or steep, fun racing for everyone.
With no racing this season at Heavenly, our traditional stop for the Viva Italia trophy cup event,
the Alpine SL's will be the Viva Italia event this season. The rankings are determined by
the top man and women based on age-handicapped combined result from both races, so competitors
of all ages have a shot at the trophy!
Early registration deadline for Alpine entries on SkiRaceReg.com/fw is Sunday 1/2.
Prices go up Monday, so get your entries in! Registration closes 8pm Wed 1/5.
Signups are also open for the Jan. 20-23 DH/SG speed races at Mammoth. (We'll get info
on lift ticket purchases for those who don't have an Ikon pass and Mammoth lodging packages
as soon as we have details).
[01-Jan-2022]
- January race reminders
What a difference a week can make in a Sierra ski season!
We've gone from much-too-warm-and-sunny to full-on feet of snow dumping,
and all our Sierra ski areas are open for a very white, very merry holiday!
Just a reminder to sign up for our January races, with two SL races
at Alpine Meadows on Friday 1/7 and 4 days of DH/SG speed racing at Mammoth
on Thu-Sun 1/20-23. All races on our season schedule are available
for signup on SkiRaceReg.com/fw.
Both Alpine Meadows and Mammoth are part of the Ikon pass, but also
offer racer-price lift tickets if you don't have an Ikon pass.
(MUST be purchased online, in advance - see race announcements for details).
For Alpine Meadows, liability release is REQUIRED for all competitors
and must be filled out online in advance.
Details on lodging offers at Mammoth for the speed event will be provided when available.
All event participants must follow all Covid guidelines at our host ski areas.
Currently, most areas generally require face masks in all indoor settings
and on public transportation, but not outdoors or on lifts. As has been the case since
the start of the pandemic, covid requirements may change in response to evolving conditions
so please be sure to review the area policies whenever you visit a ski area this season.
[19-Dec-2021]
- 2022 Regional and National Events
The 2022 race season feature the return of both Eastern and Western regional championships,
along with the national championships and a full schedule for the 2022 National Speed Series (NSS).
Information and event details are published on the US Masters "Events and Schedules" page
on usskiandsnowboard.com. The Western region championships are a joint event
with the FIS Masters Cup races at Beaver Creek CO on Feb. 4-6.
The national championships are at Sun Valley ID on Mar. 21-25.
Signups for the FIS Masters Cup/Western Region championships at
Beaver Creek CO on Feb. 4-6 and the national championships at Sun Valley ID
on Mar. 21-25 are open on SkiRaceReg.com.
[19-Dec-2021]
- Mammoth SL camp and races cancelled
The SL training camp and races scheduled for Mammoth on Dec. 1-3 and the weekend of Dec. 4-5
are cancelled. There is not enough coverage to be able to set gates and protective fences.
Despite an encouraging late October storm that dumped several feet and allowed Mammoth
to open early, the weather since then has been warm and dry, limiting snowmaking operations
that ordinarily would be in full swing by now.
Mammoth *is* open for skiing out of Main Lodge, including the upper mountain,
so you can still get out on snow and get in some early season skiing if you already
have your trip planned! If you made reservations using the event lodging block,
Mammoth will allow you to cancel without penalty - call immediately and be sure to
mention the event name "USSA/FIS Early Season Races 2021", Group ID: 32302
to request cancellation.
We will explore the possibility of rescheduling the SL races for another date.
In the meantime, everyone enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and do your snow dances
for some weather changes in December!
[23-Nov-2021]
- January race signups open on SkiRaceReg
Signups for our January SL races at Palisades Tahoe (Alpine Meadows)
and the Mammoth DH/SG speed races are now open on SkiRaceReg.com/fw,
along with the December Mammoth SL camp and races. (Signups for our Feb-Mar-Apr races will be added soon)
SkiRaceReg tip: how to find ALL the upcoming race signups!
Many of you are confused when you only see the next few races listed in the sidebar when you log into
your SkiRaceReg account to sign up for races. You may not realize that the races section in the sidebar
only has room to show up to 5 races, even when there are more listed on the complete calendar.
For example, the December Mammoth SL camp and races has 4 signups for the training camp and two more
for the weekend races, so there isn't room in the sidebar for the sixth signup for Mammoth SL #2.
If the race signup you're looking for "isnt' there", don't give up quite yet! Check the complete calendar
listing of races by clicking on the "Upcoming Races" item in the sidebar or the "Races" item
in the page header options.
[19-Nov-2022]
- Officials Training
Just a quick reminder that the Far West division officials training clinics are this weekend.
Details and signup links are on the fwskiing.org web site.
Race officials are an important part of putting on quality ski races that meet the
standards of US Ski & Snowboard alpine competitions.
Volunteer members of Far West Masters serve as Technical Delegate (TD) and Referee at our events
and we are always working to maintain an adequate pool of certified officials.
Mark Mirviss wrote an article in the October Forereunner newsletter explaining
more about the process of becoming certified and what you get out of that experience.
Get in touch with Mark if you're interested and want to learn more, or head over to the
fwskiing.org and sign up for an officials education clinic!
[01-Nov-2021]
- December Mammoth SL camp and races
Get ready for 2021-2022 racing! Mammoth and Palisades Tahoe have opened early
thanks to a surprise late October storm and the ski season is underway!!
Our Far West Masters race season kicks off in early December with
a 3-day SL camp and 2 days of SL racing at Mammoth Mountain CA.
Signups will be online at SkiRaceReg.com/fw.
Training camp signups are due by Sunday, November 28, 2021 at noon. Register for all 3 days or separately for specific days.
Race entries close 8pm Wednesday 12/1. The early registration deadline is Sunday 11/28, with $5 late fee after that.
See the race announcement and camp info for details on lodging package offer.
Mammoth is an Ikon pass resort.
If you need lift tickets, racer lift tickets must be purchased online in advance by Nov. 29.
[30-Oct-2021]
- Fall Forerunner newsletter
The fall issue of the Forerunner newsletter is out!
The President's Update message from Ray Tulloch describes the
latest news we have on plans for the upcoming ski season.
This issue also includes other information about membership
and the season schedule plans. Sadly, there is also news on
the unexpected passing for former Far West Masters president Mark Antis.
We're looking forward to a much more "normal" race season for 2021-2022.
While COVID guidelines will still be a factor for travel and racing,
in general ski areas have more limited masking requirements (indoors, dining)
and fewer reservation requirements than last season.
Note: the primary distribution method of the Forerunner newsletter will
be electronic publishing through our news email list and here on the web site.
All current members of Far West Masters should receive the newsletter. If you
have any questions or have been subscribing to receive a print copy, contact
us at forerunner@farwestmasters.org for assistance.
[15-Oct-2021]
- 2022 Membership
Far West Masters membership for 2021-2022 is now open for new and renewing members
on SkiRaceReg.com/fw. Activate your account for the season and pay your
Far West Masters dues online. Race registration will open in November.
Don't forget to renew your US Ski & Snowboard Alpine Master membership before
the early registration deadline of Oct. 15, 2021.
The "Getting Started" page from US Alpine Masters has a helpful overview of everything
you need to know for your US Ski & Snowboard membership:
[08-Oct-2022]
- Season Schedule and Membership
Get ready for the 2021-2022 Far West Masters race season!!
The 2022 season schedule is posted here on farwestmasters.org
on the Season Schedule page.
Far West Masters membership will open in October here on
skiracereg.com/fw and race signups will open in November.
2022 Membership Reminders
- US Ski & Snowboard membership renewal deadline is October 15.
Late fee of $25 charged on renewals after that date. (late fee does not apply to new members)
- Most masters should select the "Alpine Master" membership type.
Only select the "Alpine Master w/ requirements" membership type if you are required to have SafeSport training
and background checks due to your engagement with junior athletes through a US Ski & Snowboard club role.
- Most masters should select "No Club Affiliation" for the US Ski & Snowboard club affiliation.
Do NOT select the club at the area where you ski and train unless you are actually a member - the clubs
are generally associated only with junior alpine competitor programs.
- Your Far West Masters membership is IN ADDITION to your US Ski & Snowboard Alpine Master membership.
Your FWM membership dues supports organizing our division race calendar and provides you with a permanent
race bib for all our Far West masters races.
- Far West masters membership is not required for first-time racers or competitors from other divisions.
We will provide a temporary bib for your use.
2022 Rules Reminders
- New in 2022: FIS-certified race helmet is REQUIRED for GS/SG/DH events.
- Fluoro race waxex are NOT ALLOWED in any US events (ban instituted in 2021)
[29-Sep-2021]
- Preliminary 2022 Schedule
The preliminary 2021-22 race schedule is now available! Scheduling Director Mike Braun
has tried to put together a calendar with a good mix of events at proven venues.
We think this is a pretty solid schedule, with racers and organizers
all looking forward to a "return to normal" race season.
The Western Region championship/FIS Masters Cup races will be held at Beaver Creek CO on Feb. 4-6.
The national championships are planned for Sun Valley ID on Mar. 21-26.
(The DH national championship is not yet determined)
US Masters Membership tips
A few reminders and tips for those of you getting an early start
on your US Masters membership for the 2022 season:
- check your membership(s) - most should have the standard Alpine Master membership
- the Alpine Master w/ requirements membership is only needed in special
cases - it is more expensive and requires SafeSport training with background screening
- all masters with an Official or Coach license already have SafeSport/background
- SafeSport/background requirements are needed for adults working directly with junior athletes
- most of us are NOT members of a USSS club and should not select that option
just because we see the name of the area where we ski/train.
(exception: Diamond Peak's masters program IS part of their USSS club)
- If you plan to compete in FIS Masters or have FIS masters points that you want to preserve,
be sure to add FIS Masters license to your US masters membership
US Masters membership links:
[07-Aug-2021]
- Scholarship Program and Auction
The Far West Masters Scholarship program is now entering its 31st year
of raising funds to benefit Far West Junior ski racers. This has been
a very successful program - our Far West athletes are tremendously appreciative,
we hear back from many of them how helpful the extra support is to them,
and we are grateful for everyone who has donated and supported the program.
To learn more or make donation, visit the
Scholarship Program page.
With all the disruptions last season due to covid and travel restrictions,
we were unable hold our usual awards parties and fund raising events.
But fear not, we holding an online auction this summer to support the program.
Many items have been donated by Far West alumni that are on the US Ski Team.
These items include new race suits, jackets, rain ponchos, under layer tops and bottoms,
ski bags, and several pair of Super G Skis. Auction item listings and bidding
instructions are posted of the FW Skiing web site:
Applications are now being accepted from Far West athletes for the 2022 season.
We encourage all Far West Skiing Alpine athletes 13-20 years old to apply!
Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of (and in order of importance) exemplary work ethic,
academic scholarship, citizenship, financial need, and race results. Applications are due September 15th 2021.
[24-Jun-2021]
|
